Born in Mulki, Karnataka, into a family that valued education and integrity, Dr. Shetty is the son of the late Gundalu Mahabala Shetty, a respected school principal, and Ratna G.M. Shetty. His early schooling at UBMC School, Karnad, and Government High School, Mulki, followed by pre-university studies at Vijaya College, Mulki, laid the foundation for a life shaped by discipline and purpose.

He graduated from Mysore Medical College before pursuing further medical training and building his career in the United Kingdom. In 1995, he returned to Cardiff to serve at the University Hospital of Wales, where he would dedicate nearly three decades to transforming stroke care.

When Dr. Shetty began his work in Cardiff in the late 1990s, the 30-day mortality rate for acute stroke patients was approximately 28% (1998). Through structured clinical pathways, multidisciplinary teamwork, and the establishment of a dedicated Acute Stroke Unit in 2007, that figure reduced dramatically to around 11% by the early 2020s. These improvements marked a revolution in stroke medicine in Wales.

In 1998, he initiated the Welsh Association of Stroke Physicians, strengthening collaboration and raising standards across Wales. Between 2006 and 2009, he served on the Service Development and Quality Committee of the British Association of Stroke Physicians. He was a member of the Welsh Government’s Stroke Implementation Group until 2014, and served as Regional Advisor for Stroke Medicine with the Royal College of Physicians until 2015.

In 2007, he became the first non-European President in the 137-year history of the Cardiff Medical Society — a historic milestone reflecting both excellence and inclusivity.

His contributions have been recognised through numerous honours, including the Life After Stroke Award (2016) from the Stroke Association UK, the Inaugural Welsh Stroke Excellence Award (2018), and election as a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales in 2022.

In 2015, upon reaching retirement age, Dr. Shetty briefly stepped away from clinical practice. However, within three months, he returned — believing his experience and expertise should continue to benefit patients and the wider community. Even in his seventies, he remains committed to service with the same passion that defined the beginning of his career.

For young members of the Bunts community across the world, Dr. Hamsaraj Shetty’s life carries powerful lessons. Strong roots create global impact. Education builds lasting foundations. Leadership is defined by humility. Success is measured not by titles alone, but by lives touched and systems strengthened.

From Mulki to Wales, from medical student to nationally honoured physician in 2024, his journey demonstrates that dedication, perseverance, and values instilled at home can shape a legacy that inspires generations.

A meaningful life is one that continues to serve — and continues to inspire.